Fil-qosor
Eyebolts that window cleaners clip a harness to are anchor points for fall arrest. HSE says anchor points for fall arrest "require periodic inspection and testing by a competent person". The Work at Height Regulations 2005 ask for an inspection after installation and at suitable intervals, with the result kept until the next. HSE treats them as part of the building, outside LOLER.
This page explains how anchors, eyebolts and anchor points are commonly tested, inspected and recorded. It does not replace the law, the standards it names, the manufacturer's instructions, or the decisions of the person responsible for the job or the system, who sets the tests, the loads and the inspection regime. A test records what happened on the day; it does not approve an anchor for use.
Key figures
| HSE | Fall arrest anchor points "require periodic inspection and testing by a competent person" |
|---|---|
| The law | Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12; not LOLER |
| Records | Each result kept until the next is recorded |
| Staht kit | t25 or t60 with the clevis; the Petzl Coeur clevis for those anchors |
Can the windows be cleaned without them?
Check first. HSE says to avoid work at height where it's reasonably practicable, for example with water-fed poles or by cleaning from inside. BS 8213-1:2004, the current edition, covers designing windows so they're safe in use and during cleaning. Where eyebolts are used, plan the rescue too: see facilities management.
Who is responsible for the eyebolts?
Both the window cleaning firm, as employer, and you, if you control the work: HSE says the Work at Height Regulations apply to facilities managers and building owners who bring in contractors. Keep the eyebolts' records, and give the latest to the cleaning contractor before work starts.
How is an eyebolt tested?
A pull tester's bridge stands on the wall around the eyebolt, and the clevis on the tester's drop rod takes the eye. The tester pulls along the eyebolt's axis to the load set by its maker or the competent person, who also sets what counts as a pass. The clevis in every t25 and t60 kit is rated to 60 kN and has a captive pin; Petzl Coeur anchors take their own clevis. On uneven walls, the 3 leg adaptor and spreader plates help.
How often are eyebolts tested?
The law asks for inspection at suitable intervals, and HSE says periodic; neither gives a fixed period. The interval comes from the eyebolts' maker and the competent person who inspects them. Inspect again after exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise their safety, such as damage from building work around the window.
What should the eyebolt record show?
| For each eyebolt | For the visit |
|---|---|
| A reference matching a plan: floor, elevation, window | Date, and the tester's name and company |
| Type and size | The tester's make, serial number and calibration date |
| Load applied, and how long it was held | Who set the load, and on what basis |
| Result, and anything seen | When the next inspection is due |
Is there a template?
Yes: our free proof load test record is a fillable PDF with these fields. Record any eyebolt that fails the criteria set for it, and keep it out of use until the person responsible decides what happens next.
Worked example: hiring a tester for one round of tests
A building's own competent person plans to test its eyebolts over 10 days. Staht's hire price for a calibrated t25 is £180 a week (inc VAT) for the first week, then £60 a day (inc VAT): £180 + 3 × £60 = £360 inc VAT for 10 days. A £500 deposit is taken separately and refunded after the kit comes back and is checked. If the building tests every year, compare that with buying a t25 kit and its yearly calibration.
Related pages
- Facilities management: your duties for the whole roof
- Eyebolt and fall arrest anchor testing: the kit
- Roof anchors and eyebolts: for inspectors
- Pull tester hire
More questions
No. HSE's LOLER code lists "eyebolts fastened to a structure to secure such fall arrest equipment" among the things LOLER doesn't cover; they're part of the building. They're inspected under the Work at Height Regulations.
A competent person: HSE says someone with "appropriate practical and theoretical knowledge and experience" of the equipment, independent and impartial enough to judge it objectively.
No. A LOLER thorough examination report is for lifting equipment such as a cleaning cradle. An eyebolt record states what each eyebolt held when tested and the inspection result.
Mark it out of use so nobody clips to it, record it, and tell the person responsible for the building, who decides on repair or replacement.
Sorsi
- Working at height whilst window cleaning, HSE
- Work at height: the law, HSE
- L113 Safe use of lifting equipment: Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. Approved Code of Practice and guidance (second edition), HSE
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005, regulation 12: Inspection of work equipment, legislation.gov.uk
- The Work at Height Regulations 2005, Schedule 5: Requirements for personal fall protection systems, legislation.gov.uk
- BS 8213-1:2004 Windows, doors and rooflights. Design for safety in use and during cleaning of windows, including door-height windows and roof windows. Code of practice, BSI
- BS 7883:2019 Personal fall protection equipment. Anchor systems. System design, installation and inspection. Code of practice, BSI
- Staht Clevis, Technical Datasheet No 108, Staht
- Pull tester hire, Staht
Test your eyebolts
A t25 with the clevis, bought or hired, records each test in an app.